Sectional boat construction and hinged seat connecting means therefor



Oct. 31, 1967 R. A. SCHOLLE 3,349,415 SECTIONAL BOAT CONSTRUCTION ANDHINGED SEAT CONNECTING MEANS THEREFDR Filed Jan. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. A060? 450/01 LE ZZWWK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,349,415 SECTION ALBOAT CONSTRUCTION AND HINGED SEAT CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Roger A.Scholle, 8 White Birch Lane, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Jan. 3, 1966,Ser. No. 518,106 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Asectional boat assembly by the abutting of coextensive inner gunwales,said coextensive inner gunwales having end portions extending from thebottom to the deck of the boat sections and lower central portions withupper edges disposed below the deck and above the intended water linefor the boat, an elongated seat member adapted to overlie said centralupper edges of the gunwales, said seat being centrally hingedtransversely of the longitudinal center line thereof, and interfittingnotch means on end portions of said seat member and inner gunwalesproviding three-way longitudinal, transverse and vertical clampingengagement for said gun-wales when The present invention had itsinception in solving the problem in cabin pleasure boats of both thesail propelled and power driven types in the small to moderate sizerange of effectively storing a dinghy or tender while the boat isunderway. On such boats deck space is normally too limited to providefor storage of a dinghy and towing the dinghy behind is impractical andcan be dangerous in rough water.

When a boat of this type is underway the cabin area, and particularlythe bunk space therein is generally not in use, but the limited space isinsuflicient to receive a conventional dinghy. A basic concept of thepresent invention is to provide a dinghy construction which can bequickly and easily separated into two longitudinal sections each of asize to be temporarily stored in the bunk space available in most smallcabin boats. In providing the solution to this basic concept, aprinciple of quick clamping of inner gunwales of boat sections has beenevolved wherein inter-engagement of the boat sections with a hinged seatmember having hinged gunwale clamps at opposed ends thereof effectivelysupports the boat sections against relative movement in three mutuallyperpendicu-lalr directions. This novel seat construction andinterengagement with the boat sections is therefore generally applicableto use in any sectional boat construction involving coextensive innergunwales adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship.

Novel features of the present invention will readily be understood froma consideration of the following description together with theaccompanying drawings, in which preferred adaptations of the inventionare illusstrated with the various parts thereof identified by suitablereference characters in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical sectional boat in the form of adinghy with the hinged seat and clamp means in assembled position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification inthe orientation of outer walls of the boat sections. 5

FIG. 4 is a view substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seat member in collapsed or foldedposition with part of one section broken away to expose details of theunder side of the other section; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the collapsed seat as seen in the direction of thearrows 6-6 in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings the invention has beenillustrated as applied to a dinghy comprising two longitudinal sections10, 10' each comprising a formed outer shell or hull 1'1, 11' extendingfrom a keel part 12, 12' to a narrow reinforcing upper edge or deck 13,13" which may include suitably positioned oarlocks 14, 14-, and a flatlongitudinal inner gunwale 15, 15'. As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4the inner gunwales have opposed ends 16 thereof extending to the fullheight of the outer shells 11, 11', but throughout the major portion oftheir length they terminate in flat aligned upper edges 17, which arebelow the upper edges of the outer sections 11, 11 by a distance aboutone-quarter to one-third of the keel to upper edge dimension. The upperedges 17 of the inner gunwales are accordingly substantially above thenormal waterline of the dinghy in use, as indicated at 18 in FIG. 4.

While the boat sections can be made from various materials such as wood,metal, plastics, and combinations thereof, and the particular selectionof construction materials, forms no part of the present invention, it isnoted that a practical construction for the dinghy sections can utilizemarine plywood as the inner gunwales 15, 1'5, securely bonded to moldedfiberglass outer sections 11, 11'. The ribbed contour in the sections11, 11', as shown in FIG. 2, is particularly adapted to such moldedfiberglass construction since the ribs provide necessary stiffness witha minimum thickness of fiberglass. Furthermore, the lower ribs 19, 19act to appreciably stabilize the craft in the water. Innerirregularities in the hull sections 11, 11' can suitably be filled outwith plastic foam as indicated at 20, 20". With this type ofconstruction individual sections of a seven-foot dinghy may weigh aslittle as 25 to 30 pounds.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the inner gunwale ends 16 havetapered undercuts 21 providing in conjunction with the upper gunwaleedges 17 a notch for interfitting engagement with notched ends 22 (noteFIG. 5) of a hinged seat member 23. The seat member 23 is hingedcentrally thereof by a pair of strap hinges 24 or other suitable hingemeans, and it will be apparent that as the seat member 23 is moved fromthe dotted line position to the full line position, as shown in FIG. 4,the notched ends 22 are forced into wedging engagement with the bevelledundercuts 21 of the inner gunwales to firmly support the same againstrelative longitudinal, vertical and separating movement. To minimizewear on the bevelled surfaces 21 supplemental bearing members arepreferably secured to the end portions 16 of the gunwales in a positionto firmly engage upper surfaces of the seat member at the notched ends22 thereof.

While the notched inter-engagement of the seat member and assembledgunwales as above described provide the basic three-way clampingtogether of the boat sections an essential supplementary support isprovided by hinged braces 26 mounted adjacent the notched ends 22 of theseat member and adapted to firmly clamp together the inner gunwales 15,15' through a substantial vertical distance, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2and 4. In order to provide ample supporting leverage in the braces 26the associated end portions of the seat member are suitably made ofslightly wider dimension as seen at 23a. With the braces 26 proportionedsubstantially as shown in the drawing it is found that the seat 23 isfirmly supported as a rigid member of the assemblage and that relativemovement between the boat sections when in use is effectively prevented.

To minimize weight in the hinged seat member 23 it can be suitablyfashioned from a channeled fiberglass body 27 having fillers of wood orother suitable material bonded thereto centrally of the seat member 23as seen at 28 for mounting of the hinges 24, and at end portions thereofas seen at 29 for mounting the hinges 30 which support the braces 26.The seat member 23 can also be provided, if desired, with an enlargedhole 31 adjacent the hinged ends of the braces 26 for receiving theforked, gunwale straddling end of a mast 32 permitting use of the boatas a sailing dinghy. In such event suitable socket means 33 should beprovided on inner surfaces of the gunwales 15, 15 for receiving thelower end of the mast 32.

While the dinghy shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 has been illustrated aspointed at both ends it will be recognized that it is frequentlydesirable to permit mounting of a small outboard motor on a dinghy, inwhich event a blunt end construction is necessary. Such a structuralmodification is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing wherein two boatsections 34, 34' having inner gunwales 35, 35 include outer shell orhull parts 36, 36' having wall portions 37, 37' which are essentiallyperpendicular to the gunwales 35, 35. With this type of construction thepreviously described supplemental bearing members 25 are suitablyreplaced by combination braces and bearing members 38, 38 extending tothe outer walls 37, 37

It will be understood that the engagement of a seat 23 with thegunwales, 35, 35' and bearing members 38, 38' of the assemblage shown inFIG. 3 functions in the same manner as that previously described inconnection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. It will further be understood thatFIG. 3 illustrates the end construction for a longitudinally dividedblunt-end boat, as well as the construction at opposed sides of atransversely divided sectional boat. In other words, the quick-mounting,three-way supporting, hinged seat construction can be utilized injoining together any two boat sections having coextensive inner gunwalesadapted for abutting relationship.

Both the bearing members 25 (or 38, 38') and the braces 26 aid insupporting the seat perpendicular to the abutting gunwales. The bracesprovide the further advantage of supporting the gunwales againstseparation at the bottom portion of the boat. In fact, depending on thegunwale length, and the intended load capacity of the boat, it may bedesirable to provide additional hinged braces 26, as for example at thecentral fillers or fringe mountings 28 of the seat.

Various changes and modifications in the improved sectional boat andhinged seat clamping means therefor as herein disclosed will occur tothose skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes andmodifications are embraced by the appended claims it is to be understoodthat they constitute part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A sectional boat adapted to be assembled by the abutting ofcoextensive inner gunwales of separate sections thereof, saidcoextensive inner gunwales having end portions extending from the bottomto the deck of said boat sections and lower central portions with upperedges disposed below said deck and above the intended water line forsaid boat, an elongated seat member adapted to overlie said centralupper edges of the gunwales, said seat member being centrally hingedtransversely of the longitudinal center line thereof, and interfittingnotch means on end portions of said seat member and inner gunwalesproviding three-way longitudinal, transverse and vertical clampingengagement of said gunwales when said hinged seat is fully extended.

2. A sectional boat as defined in claim 1 wherein said interfittingnotch means includes beveled undercuts in the end portions of saidgunwales adjacent said lower central portions, and notches in the endsof said seat member, said notches being of a width to compressivelyengage the exposed surfaces of the abutting inner gunwales fortransverse clamping of said gunwales, and said notches further being ofa depth to provide firm longitudial and vertical bearing engagement withthe undercuts of said inner gunwales when the hinged seat is fullyextended, and means supporting said seat member substantiallyperpendicularly with respect to said gunwales.

3. A sectional boat as defined in claim 2 wherein said last named meanscomprises members projecting from exposed surfaces of the end portionsof said gunwales adapted for bearing engagement with the upper surfaceof said seat adjacent said notches in the ends thereof, said projectingmembers thereby enhancing the vertical clamping of said gunwales.

4. A sectional boat as defined in claim 2 wherein said last named meanscomprises a pair of members at the under side of each end of said seathingedly movable on aligned axes extending transversely of said seat,said members being spaced to provide, when downwardly extended, a firmbearing engagement with exposed surfaces of said gunwales throughout amajor portion of the height of said gunwales, thereby enhancing thetransverse clamping of said gunwales.

5. A sectional boat as defined in claim 2 wherein said last named meanscomprises members projecting from exposed surfaces of the end portionsof said gunwales adapted for bearing engagement with the upper surfaceof said seat adjacent said notches in the ends thereof, said projectingmembers thereby enhancing the vertical clamping of said gunwales, and apair of members at the under side of each end of said seat hingedlymovable on aligned axes extending transversely of said seat, saidmembers being spaced to provide, when downwardly extended, a firmbearing engagement with exposed surfaces of said gunwales throughout amajor portion of the height of said gunwales, thereby enhancing thetransverse clamping of said gunwales.

6. A sectional boat as defined in claim 3 wherein said projectingmembers engaging at least one end of said seat are braces which extendto walls of said boat sections adjacent said gunwales.

7. A sectional boat as defined in claim 1 wherein said boat consists oftwo boat sections having said inner gunwales extending longitudinally ofthe boat.

8. A sectional boat as defined in claim 3 wherein said boat comprises aplurality of boat sections having said inner gunwales of adjacent boatsections extending transversely of said boat, and said projectingmembers are braces joining said gunwales with adjacent outer walls ofsaid boat sections.

9. A sectional boat as defined in claim 3 wherein outer walls of saidboat sections adjacent at least one end of the abutting inner gunwalesare disposed substantially perpendicularly to said gunwales, and saidprojecting members are braces joining said gunwales with adjacent outerwalls of said boat sections.

10. A sectional boat as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat has anaperture at the longitudinal central line thereof, and said boatsections have socket means at the base of said abutting gunwales invertical alignment with said aperture, said socket means and apertureproviding detachable support for a forked-end mast adapted to straddlesaid abutting gunwales.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,539 4/ 1902 Pruden 9-21,263,410 4/1918 Haskell 9-2 1,916,093 6/1933 Cormier 92 2,830,3084/1958 Green 92 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. R. A. DORNON,Assistant Examiner.

1. A SECTIONAL BOAT ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLED BY THE ABUTTING OFCOEXTENSIVE INNER GUNWALES OF SEPARATE SECTIONS THEREOF, SAIDCOEXTENSIVE INNER GUNWALES HAVING END PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOMTO THE DECK OF SAID BOAT SECTIONS AND LOWER CENTRAL PORTIONS WITH UPPEREDGES DISPOSED BELOW SAID DECK AND ABOVE THE INTENDED WATER LINE FORSAID BOAT, AN ELONGATED SEAT MEMBER ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID CENTRALUPPER EDGES OF THE GUNWALES, SAID SEAT MEMBER BEING CENTRALLY HINGEDTRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE THEREOF, AND INTERFITTINGNOTCH MEANS ON END PORTIONS OF SAID SEAT MEMBER AND INNER GUNWALESPROVIDING THREE-WAY LONGITUDINAL, TRANSVERSE AND VERTICAL CLAMPINGENGAGEMENT OF SAID GUNWALES WHEN SAID HINGED SEAT IS FULLY EXTENDED.